Terrence J. Hadler was born in the Victorian Mallee in 1947 and lived all of his childhood years in rural Victoria.
He was educated at Melbourne University taking an Honours Degree in Law and practiced in this field , including gaining extensive experience in indigenous legal affairs for some years before becoming completely disillusioned with the legal system. Subsequently he and his wife Kathryn travelled extensively throughout Europe and America.
Returning to Australia in 1982 Terrence commenced and and continues thirty plus years later as a professional fulltime artist.
During his time in the legal profession, Terrence undertook art lessons with well-known Menzies Creek artist, Richard Keith Gasson, and also was tutored by the brilliant Victorian artist, Ambrose Griffin. Terrence Hadler's work has taken him through a roller coaster ride, through styles and techniques. Initially he painted in a very traditional realist style influenced largely by previous teachers. However, over the years his focus changed to Australian Impressionism greatly affected by Charles Condor and Sir Arthur Streeton.
By chance, in 1996, Terrence visited a Fred Williams retrospective exhibition and was overawed by the beauty and the simplicity, his use of colour and design in Fred's landscapes. This enlightening caused him to abandon a large degree of his previous style of work and concentrate more on contemporary art. To this day Terrence remains heavily influenced by Fred Williams and Piet Mondrian (who so greatly influenced Fred Williams).
Over the last two decades he has mainly painted very large canvasses in contemporary semi-abstract style. Concentrating on a vivacity of colour, simple line and representational motifs to express his view of the Australian bush, sea and riverscapes.
Terrence Hadler's art is now spread worldwide and has been sold in all capital cities in Australia, as well as many regional centres. Some notable sales of his paintings have been to Ex-President Jimmy Carter (U.S.A.), Prime Minister Paul Keating's wife, Anita, the Australian Embassy in Washington DC and many senior Australian legal and corporate identities.
Terrence also completed a contract for creating forty paintings for the Australian Tourism Commission which were used to promote Australia as a destination to overseas tourists.
He continues to paint daily and is a mentor to many aspiring artists.